Blaine561's Social and Health Commentary

Menopause is a natural condition and not an illness that occurs when the ovaries no longer produce enough estrogen to stimulate the lining of the uterus and vagina. Simply said menopause is when women no longer menstruate or get pregnant. It generally occurs to women somewhere between the ages of 40 and 60. One of the most famous signs of menopause is the hot flash, a sudden reddening of the face accompanied by a feeling of intense warmth. Other common symptoms include depression, fluid retention, insomnia, mood swings, nervousness, night sweats, painful intercourse, anxiety, urinary changes, thinning of vaginal tissues, vaginal dryness and weight gain. It should be noted that some women experience few symptoms while still others encounter none at all.

How Menozac Can Help: One natural remedy for menopause is Menozac, a botanical alternative medicine formulation which contains a blend of all natural herbal extracts developed to ease the transition and provide effective menopause symptoms relief. Leading herbal experts have recommended the Menozac’s ingredients as alternatives to HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). Recent study shows that herbs worked better than estrogen in eliminating the menopause symptoms and also helped to prevent cancer. It eliminates the health risks associated with the synthetic hormones.

When it comes to information on laser hair removal there are some specific things that everyone should know. The first piece of information on laser hair removal that you should know is that lasers are not for everyone and in order to carry out these procedures you must be fully qualified.

Lasers were introduced as a rapid but gentle way to permanently remove unwanted body hair and have become a huge success worldwide for both men and women. As previously mentioned lazer hair removal is not for everyone and a consultation for your skin tone and pigment is required. It is vital that the hair to be removed be darker than the surrounding skin. Light skin is the preferred choice for lazer hair removal and fewer treatments will be required. Darker skin can be treated but the results take longer and more sessions will be required.

For lazer hair removal, dark hair is much easier to treat and this is because dark hair absorbs more of the lasers energy and coarse dark hair is the best. Blonde and red hair is the most difficult to treat and a number of sessions will be required in order to achieve permanent body hair removal.

Permanent body hair removal using lasers can be carried out all over the body. Some of the most common areas where body hair removal is carried out are the face, neck, chest, upper lip, underarms, back, legs, and bikini line.

Using lasers for permanent body hair removal may sound ideal but another important point that should be considered is the cost of laser hair removal. This treatment can vary but the average cost is approximately $500 per session and there are usually between 4 and 6 sessions required.

Having information on laser hair removal is essential and knowing what skin type or hair type is required is the first step. If you choose to undergo lazer hair removal then your next step should be to find out what the procedure involves and how to prepare for it.

If keys open the doors to all things that are rich and beautiful in this world, then it is not the keys but the key chains that are most powerful things of this world, for they bind the keys together. Traditional key chains are known for their exquisite craftsmanship in gold and silver while their cousins of the present era are the little marvels of technology.

The utilities of key chains limit them to indoors in large offices for obligatory reasons. Those carrying a handful of keys can also be called as key bunches. The relevance of functional key chains has been a bit reduced with the advent of modern, high security magnetic and electronic swipe cards, which are used increasingly everywhere. These card keys are conveniently hung from the neck or kept in the wallets as they double up as ID cards too.

Key chain uses

Gone are the days when these were the items of bunching keys together. Take a look at what innovative uses are found out for key chains of late.

1. Status symbols: Silver and gold key chains made either plain or by artistically crafting are a matter of status symbol in certain circles. People pride sporting them in parties and social events.

2. ID cards: Large corporations digitalize employee information on their ID cards, which serve as door openers when swiped in the slots. These type of specialized card are normally for security purposes. These key chains/ID cards are usually hung around the neck by the employees.

3. Flash and UV light: These type of key chains a re nickel-cadmium battery operated and have small flashlight basically to locate the keyhole. UV light chains are used for detecting hidden marks made by invisible ink. Examples are currency notes and secret messages passed between detectives.

4. Souvenirs and gifts: Key chains engraved or embossed to mark the occasion of some seminar or college event are proudly distributed as souvenirs by the hosts. Or you can pick a typical one on your holiday to Caribbean islands.

5. Sundry chains: You can have Champagne opener screws, fruit knives, and nail cutters for key chains.

Artistry

Although small in sizes key chains are strong enough to bowl you over by their sheer beauty, funny key chains in acrylic or metals, key chains of comic and popular figures are pieces of artistry.

A little trival question: Do you know why hotel room key chains are abnormally big?

With prom season right around the corner, you are no doubt already thinking about how you want to wear your hair for the special night. While many of your friends may end up spending a fortune getting their hair done at a salon, you can easily do your hair at home and achieve stunning results. The key is in the details.

When creating updos at home, one of the hardest things to do is craft perfect twists and dramatic effects. But you can have equally stunning results by taking a few shortcuts. Here are a couple of ideas that you can do yourself at home.

Loose, Romantic Updo

Remember Kate Winslet’s hair in the Titanic? This classic, romantic updo is very simple to pull off at home. All you need is a medium sized curling iron, some bobby pins and super-hold finishing spray.

To begin, start with dry hair. Give your hair a once over with the hairspray and start to curl your hair in ringlets. You can do this by taking ½” sections starting in the nape while pinning the rest of the hair up. After completing each section, pull down another ½” parting and curl until the whole head is covered in Shirley Temple ringlets. (Don’t worry; it’s not going to stay like that.)

Next, pull hair in 1” sections from around the hair line. Twisting slightly and loosely, pull the sections up and back toward the top of the crown and pin into place. Continue around the entire perimeter of the head until all of the hair is pinned up. If the curls on the crown look a bit funky, rearrange them to where you would like them and pin into place. You can also leave tendrils of soft hair falling around the face and neck of this updo to create a wispy effect. Spray to hold.

Fun and Modern Updo

This updo is extremely easy to create. Start again dry hair. First, create a dramatic design parting in the front and top of the head. You can do a zigzag parting or an angled parting, really any parting that adds interest. Sleek the rest of the hair down and back to the nape of the neck in a temporary ponytail. Holding the ponytail in your fist, twist up until the end of the hair are pointing up and over the crown leaving only about 1” of hair to play with. Hold with a clip and fan the ends out with some pomade or styling wax. Spray to finish.

You see, it’s not that hard. And when your friends all show up with cookie-cutter hairdos and less money in their pockets, you can smile with the knowledge that you not only have an individual updo but that you also have more money to burn.

When looking at the increasing numbers of reports about violence against women, it is clear that women’s self-defense against men is becoming an important issue in today’s society. There are many products and techniques designed for women’s self-defense against men, from mace guns to judo and assertiveness training. Unfortunately, these things are becoming increasingly necessary, and it is essential to stay informed of the most effective strategies for women’s self-defense against men.

Since more and more women are working overtime and at late hours, extra attention should be given to women’s self-defense against men. Dark parking lots are among the most dangerous places, and it is good idea to walk into a parking lot with a special device, such as a small alarm, whistle or light, or where it is legal, a mace gun or stun gun. The mace or stun guns should not be shaped like actual guns, but should be disguised as cell phones, pens or key chains which can be carried by hand without attracting undue attention.

It is important to principle of women’s self defense against men always to look straight ahead and always to appear alert. Potential attackers are always on the lookout for women who seem unaware of their surroundings, so give an impression of confidence.

Before opening your car door, always inspect the inside to ensure that no one is there. A portable flashlight can be useful for this inspection. Make sure your car door is always locked, and, if you unlock your car door with a remote control, avoid locking and unlocking the door too far in advance of your entry. This will prevent someone from crawling into your car.

Women’s self-defense against men is not always focused on strangers, but, more often than not, an attacker is someone the woman knows. Before making the attack, the person usually stalks the woman to find out her habits and where she is the most vulnerable.

It is therefore a good idea to change your route frequently if you jog or walk for exercise. Be on the lookout for people who are watching your activities and make sure that you are aware of potential dangers. Like fire drills, women’s self-defense calls for identifying potential danger spots, so, as you go through your day, look for those places where a person can easily intrude.

Many strategies for women’s self-defense against men include some kind of martial arts training. Although many critics complain that techniques learned in classes can not be adapted well to the street, martial arts give women strength and confidence to be able to ward off an attacker.

There are many varieties of martial arts to choose from, and it is a good idea to experiment with several classes before narrowing down your choice. Popular martial arts courses for women’s self-defense against men include:

• Tae Kwan Do

• Kenpo

• Judo

• Hapkido

• Kung Fu

• Karate

Tae Kwan Do is a good choice for women’s self-defense against men, because it emphasizes punches and kicks that can repel attacks. Akido emphasizes throws and joint locks, which are more aggressive techniques to deal with attackers. Kenpo and Karate were developed through principles of aesthetics and spirituality, as well as a mean s of self-defense. Kung Fu focuses on the movements of five animals: the dragon, tiger, snake leopard and crane. Martial arts give the added benefit of physical fitness and self-confidence to women’s self-defense against men.

The most important principle to remember for effective women’s self-defense against men is confidence. If a woman looks and seems aware and confident, a potential attacker is less likely to approach her, because he knows he will be unlikely to succeed. In addition, if she feels competent, she is far more likely to defend herself well and to prevent an attack.

Should we SPLURGE?

That is the unrequited question for womankind, isn’t it? This is quite possibly the “age old” question for the fashion savior-faire crowd of the world. The answer should come effortlessly; unfortunately we can’t all afford to say yes to every expensive pair of heels that summons us or every pricey piece that catches our eye.

What exactly is it that causes us to lose all common sense and spend more than our bank accounts or maxed out credit cards will allow? Splurging is like a drug that picks you up out of that dark hole on a bad day. It can also serve as a reward system. “I just got a promotion, why can’t I buy those pair of Manolos I’ve been hopelessly drooling over at Neiman for the past 6 months?” Sometimes it’s all about the label, sometimes it’s all about the trend, sometimes it’s just the way it makes you feel. The important thing is that it’s fun and it feels good to splurge…on occasion that is. This is where the savvy splurge comes in. A savvy splurge should be something that could be considered a “good investment.” It is these splurges that will last through the ever changing trends of the fashion world. But who is to say that the great pair of pink Ugg boots with the jewels on them or that super-cute hobo peasant skirt aren’t going to carry us through the 21st century? For all you girls out there who think every trendy piece of jewelry and every must have pair of shoes will in fact make a comeback in the year 2015, we might have a thing coming to us when those credit card companies decide to decrease our spending limits, or worse yet, suspend our cards!

So, the key to splurging is deliberation and occasion. If you’ve really thought it through and honestly, after you leave the store and come back a couple times, believe you absolutely HAVE to have that purse, go ahead and SPLURGE! Just make sure this process doesn’t tend to happen on a weekly or even monthly basis. And for those of you who don’t have the liberty of splurging on an $800 bag, stores like Forever 21, Styles for Less and even the local vintage shop or quick online clothing wholesaler come in handy for those ever-popular trends that might be over with a blink of an eye. So when you decide to take the plunge, make sure you are going to get the miles out of those pricey additions to your already fabulous wardrobe.

Happy shopping!

The mid-life phenomenon known as menopause and the stresses of anxiety go hand in hand. Panic attacks, rushes of energy, burning in the chest, unusual vibrations throughout the body, and warm sensations are some of the physical effects you may feel under this condition.

When menopause hits, there is a greater chance women will go through anxiety and depression. Christian Northrop talks about this phenomenon in her book, Wisdom of Menopause, where if a woman has repressed something in her life, she won’t be able to get past menopause employing the same tactics. For example, unexpressed anger will find its way out and sometimes in unusual or uncomfortable ways.

In what is often referred to as a ¨midlife crisis,¨ this time of life forces women to re-evaluate themselves and the role(s) they play as they are getting older. And, often times we are not comfortable with what we find. A little voice in the back of our head is saying, “If you don’t make changes now … you never will!” Our hormonal imbalances (due to decreased estrogen levels) can contribute to feelings of depression or make us feel plain ‘indifference.’ Even if menopause isn’t actually causing these conditions, it can heighten underlying anxiety and bring it to the surface.

Anxiety is an individual’s prolonged feeling of dread and worry with no particular reason behind it. It’s uncomfortable and causes stress particularly on the body. It can be triggered by problems in everyday life like paying the bills and work. Although worrying about these things for a normal person has its ceiling of severity, menopausal women suffering from anxiety tend to think about their problems excessively.

When anxiety finally hits its highest peak, it is often called a panic attack. Panic attacks are debilitating episodes of fright and fear that include chest pains, fear of death, and shaking. In what is called being ¨psychosocially¨ depressed, women have negative beliefs and attitudes in regards to getting older, assuming unwanted roles such as caretaker, and responding negatively to impatient husbands who might demand sex.

Being depressed during the duration of this condition has a lot to do with their overall psychological well-being prior to menopause. Women who have continuous anxiety and depression beforehand are more likely to suffer worse cases of anxiety during this latter phase of life. If life-long imbalances have not been healed, menopause may exacerbate the situation. We might feel unable to perform ¨female duties¨, contributing to feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. Research has found that consistent regular physical activity (i.e. exercise) before menopause has been scientifically proven to lessen the possibility of anxiety symptoms during this transition. It’s also helpful to avoid drinking caffeine-loaded liquids, sleep deprivation, and stimulant use. Also, numerous women report that black cohosh has helped them lessen or eliminate their anxiety.

Psychiatric consultations are highly recommended for anxiety sufferers under menopause. An experienced counselor and/or therapist can help us recover and evaluate our lives including healing emotional imbalances. It is a great time to refocus our attention toward new activities and roles. As is common with anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, fright, and even suicidal tendencies can occur. In this case, antidepressants may be prescribed. Coping with all of the physical changes, assuming new roles, possibly facing many of our fears for the first time, and generally waking up to the fact that ¨life just isn’t what it used to be¨ are all realizations that contribute to anxiety in older women. In these times, it is important to maintain focus and concentrate on the positive things in life. Although it can be hard, it can be done.

Having a plethora of life responsibilities and obligations during menopause can create stress, and having an ´excess´ of this stress can cause adrenal fatigue. Anxiety in menopause sufferers results from hormonal imbalances. In the menstrual cycle, ovulation causes progesterone (which has soothing effects on the mind and body) to be released. Irregular cycles are grounds for anxiety build-up, as a result of the lack of this ¨happy hormone.¨ All of these conditions can be treated with alternative therapies such as natural progesterone cream.

But why do some women go through menopause and barely notice a difference? One consensus among medical doctors theorizes that it has a lot to do with women’s self-esteem and self-confidence. One thing is for sure, if you are having trouble with either of these, you’ll get a chance to deal with them now. One thing menopause is great at, and that is bringing out our unresolved issues. And we all know how anxious that can make us.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

Menopause relief is possible through self care. Western doctors treat women in menopause like they have a disease. In truth, menopause is a transitional imbalance, a change that can be comforted with some study and experimentation.

Peri-menopausal woman report experiencing symptoms including hot flashes, anger, urinary tract infections, irritability, hyperacidity, skin breakouts (acne), rashes, low sex drive, mood swings, and more. If the sole cause of menopause is a loss of hormones, as is commonly believed in the west, then why do some women experience no symptoms at all during menopause while others can no relief from menopause?

In the Ayurvedic tradition (medical practice of India), doctors report that if a woman reaching this stage already has an imbalance often caused by a diet of fast food, or eating foods with chemicals and preservatives causing an accumulation of digestive impurities, or if stress is a daily experience, she is likely to report more symptoms at this stage in life.

What are some of the things a woman can do to treat her most prevalent and disturbing symptoms?

Diet is a good place to start. If you have hot flashes and mood swings, avoid spicy foods such as chili, cayenne and black mustard seed, vinegar, salty and sour foods. Instead, go for bitter, astringent and sweet foods including vegetables, rice, milk, wheat and pasta, fruit (especially pears and plums), and spices such as cinnamon, coriander, cardamom, fennel and cumin seed.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as memory loss or vaginal dryness, eat cooked, warm foods that are low in fat. Include sweet, sour and salty with a breakfast of cooked apples, prunes and figs to cleanse the digestive system. Under all circumstances, avoid packaged, processed, frozen, and canned foods including leftovers.

Do eat organic when possible and foods that are cooked fresh on a daily basis. The bulk of your diet should be whole grains, fresh fruit, vegetables and legumes.

Don’t eat meat, cheese, yogurt and frozen deserts. Don’t skip meals and eat your main meal at noon, and if possible, try to take your meals at the same time each day so your body can count on the consistency.

Asians consume up to 6 servings of soy foods a day, and as a result, they report a significantly lower rate of menopausal discomfort. There are currently plenty of soy products on the market, but to consume the equivalent of 6 cups of soymilk (and its supplement called isoflavones) is difficult and some women find the taste of soy to be “chalky” and somewhat unpleasant. There is, however, a source where you can select The #1 Doctor-Recommended Soy Protein Supplement for Menopause Relief

Other things you can do to get menopause relief from its uncomfortable symptoms include mild, consistent exercise as well as other information for menopause relief on this page.

Children are especially difficult when it comes to bathing, what more when you have to wash their hair! Once your child is more comfortable in the bath, then you can start to introduce hair washing. I have left off washing my daughter’s hair for a while, until necessary, but she still goes mad. Cleansing involves washing and rinsing the hair.

Avoid vigorous drying with a towel after washing your hair, as this will remove essential moisture. About 50 to 100 hairs fall out each day, while you’re washing your hair, brushing or combing it, or just sitting still. If any more than 100 hairs fall out a day, you may want to look into your diet, and reorganize the nutrients you take in. Black Soap helps oily skin, blemishes & more and has been used for centuries. Ghanaians have also used black soap for bathing and washing their hair.

Doctor Denis, the demon designer, is always ready to prescribe the Comfywash system to solve that portable hair washing problem! I have read that washing hair with warm/hot water can rob it of its nutrients. I have never read anything negative about washing hair with cold water. I’ve stopped washing my hair altogether. The rest of you I feel are simply intellectually curious enough to wonder what might happen when a man simply stops washing his hair. First I have to brush out my hair, tangled from three days of not washing. But do not attempt this unless you are used to dry cleaning your hair!

When you wash your hair with detergent or soap, the grease sticks to the detergent or soap and washes away with the water. If you do choose to wash your hair daily, make sure that you are using a pH-balanced shampoo and only wash it once. Also, the more frequently you can wash your hair in the first few weeks, the more quickly you’ll finish your “detox”. Standing upright reduces back strain while washing hair for the caregiver or hairdresser. Let your hair hang naturally while you wash it, either standing in the shower or with your head leaning over the bath. Preferably, the hair washing aid also includes a liquid supply container and a pump for delivery of liquid from the container to the nozzle. Magnesium content of hair was most affected by washing, containing less than half of the magnesium of the unwashed hair.

Some women face abnormal periods that usually stop for 6 months or more are said to have amenorrhea or the absence of menstruation which is also known as secondary amenorrhea. Here it is worth to mention that girls who don’t menstruate by the age of 16 have primary amenorrhea.

Secondary amenorrhea does not include minor lateness of a period and in case of some women, menstrual cycles of 5-6 weeks are quite normal. Stress is also a considerable factor and at times when you worry that you are or not pregnant also leads your period to be late by a week or two.

Severe emotional and physical stress or mental health problems could even cause the periods to delay or stop for a long time. Amenorrhea at a higher stage also leads to problems with the hormones that regulate menstruation. The glands that produce hormones affecting menstruation include the pituitary gland at the base of the brain, the adrenal glands on the top of the kidneys, the thyroid gland in the neck and the ovaries.

It can take a period from 6 months to a year for normal periods to resume after a woman stops taking birth control pills because the pill blocks certain hormones involved in menstruation and it can also take long for those hormones to return to normal which are involved in menstruation. Menstruation also stops during pregnancy. In case of some women, menstruation either stops or never stops because their ovaries don’t respond properly to those hormones that trigger the release of an egg. These women are also unable to ovulate on their own and therefore menstruation is not possible without ovulation. Some women do not even produce enough estrogen hormones to ovulate. Other reasons of amenorrhea are ovarian cysts and obstructions or other problems in the reproductive tract.

Other factors that could cause menstruation to stop includes excessive exercise, obesity, poor nutrition, diabetes, chronic illness, tuberculosis, medications including birth control pills, narcotics, major tranquilizers and cancer chemotherapy drugs.

In some rare cases of primary amenorrhea, there is no opening in the hymen through which the blood flows and about one third of girls with primary amenorrhea have a genetic disorder or problem with their reproductive tract.